Gowanda police break up burglary ring

February 9, 2014

GOWANDA - The Gowanda Police Department has arrested three members of an alleged burglary ring, charging two Dunkirk men and a female teen from Fredonia after they were caught in the act Sunday night near a self-storage facility on Palmer Street.

Remanded to Cattaraugus County Jail in lieu of $3,000 bail following their arraignment in Persia Town Court were Glen Fisher II, 23, of 57 Kosciuszko Ave. and Ricky J. Grant, 20, of 3514 New Road, both of Dunkirk, and Kaycee J. Liberator, 18, of 7 Andrew Court in Fredonia.

All were charged with third-degree burglary, third-degree criminal trespass, third-degree criminal mischief and petit larceny. More charges are pending for all three suspects.

According to a report received at 5:32 a.m. today, Gowanda police on routine patrol became suspicious when they spotted vehicle tracks near a self-storage business at 241 Palmer St. A pickup truck was found secluded in a wooded area at the rear of the business, and officers observed that a hole had been cut in a fence that surrounds the facility. Locks to storage buildings were cut off and items from a storage building were placed outside the building.

As police investigated, the trio scaled the fence and fled. The Erie County Sheriff's Department, Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Department and the New York State Police responded to assist in tracking and searching for the suspects. After an extended search, all three suspects were located and arrested.

During their investigation, Gowanda police learned the trio had been involved in a burglary of this same facility last week in which the fence was cut, locks cut off rented storage buildings and multiple items stolen.